Mail-box.



UNITED STATES iPatented November 10, 1903.

MARSHALL G. QUAOKENBUSH, OF

COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO.

FLUlD-PRESSURE COUPLlNG.

srn crrzcnmou forming part of Letters Patent No. 743,659, dated November10,

Application filed March 26. 1903.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MARSHALL G. QuAcK- ENBUSH, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Colorado Springs, in the county of El Paso and Stateof Golorado,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fluid-Pressure Couplings; and I do declare thefollowing to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters ofreference marked thereon, which form av part of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in automaticcouplers for steam, air, and fluid hose-pipes for use in connection withair-brakes, steam-pipe connections, 850.; and it consists in theprovision of means whereby pipes may be coupled without the necessity ofa person going between the ends of cars, as is now commonly the customand which results in great loss of life and various accidents.

The invention more specifically comprises an automatic couplingapparatus of this character com prising an adjustable funnel-shapedguide member adapted to receive a plunger having ducts which communicatewith pipes and in the provision of a device whereby the ducts of theplunger are thrown into communication with fluid pressure pipes andvalves automatically actuated for opening communication between thetrain-pipes and the pipes upon two'cars which have been antomaticallycoupled.

The invention consists, further, in various details of construction andin combinations and arrangements of parts,which will be hereinafterfully described and then specifically defined in the appended claims. 1

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which, withthe letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of thisapplication, and in which drawings- Figure 1 is a side elevation of myimproved coupler, shown as attached to the draw-head of a car-coupler.Fig. 2' is a top plan-view of two couplers connected together, portionsof the couplers being shown insection. Fig.

3 is an end view of the coupler, and Fig. dis

Serial No. 149,725. (No model.)

' a cross-sectional view on line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view showing parts of the'invention in sideelevation.

Reference now being had to the details of the drawings by letter, Adesignates the drawhead of a car-coupler, and secured to the under facethereof are the brackets B and O, which support the fiuid-pressure-pipe-coupling apparatus. Swivelly mounted upon and depending from thebracket B is a forked yoke D, the arms of which carry a pivotal pin D.upon which is pivotally mounted a slotted bar E. Mounted upon a pivotalpin E, which is supported in the walls of the slotted portion E? of saidbar, is a draw-bar F, having a staple F secured to its under edge, towhich one end of aspring G is connected, the other end of the springbeing fastoned in an aperture 6 in the lower tapering end of said bar E.7 The lower end of the bracket-armO has an opening through which thedraw-bar F has a passage and has alateral play, the marginal ends ofsaid opening being illustratedby dotted lines 0 in Fig. 2 of thedrawings. Said draw-bar F has a head H, having shouldered portions H andH on either edge thereof, said shoulders H being slightly concaved,while the shoulders H are disposed at an angl e, as illustrated in Fig.1 of the drawings. Links Kand K are mounted upon pivotal pins K adjacentto said shoulders, and the forward ends of said links are in turnpivoted to a block I, which carries pins 1 adjacent to the shoulderedportions of said block I, said shoulders being provided for the purposeof allowing a limited vertical movement to the links. Said block I hassocured thereto a cross-bar J, one end of which supports the pipes L andthe other end of which is forked to receive the shank portion N of thefunnel-shaped guide member N, said shank portion N being mounted upon apivotal pin M, Fig. 2 of the drawings, and projectinglaterally from oneside of the shank portion N is a lug N adapted to bear againstaspring-actuated plunger N which is mounted in a hole in said cross-barJ. The inner end of said plunger N has a head adapted to bear a ainst aspring 72, interposed between said head and the bottom of the hole'inwhich the plunger is mounted, and serves to hold UNITED 'Sjr T sPatented November 10, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

. MAlL BOX.

srncrrrcmnon arming part of Letters were N5. 743,660, dated November 10,1903.

Serial in 157,282. on model.)

Application filed May 15,1903,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I-,ELMER zen of the United States, residing at RollingPrairie, in the county of Laporte and State of Indiana, have invented anew and useful Mail-Box, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates particularly to improvements in that class ofmail-boxes employed in the rural free-delivery system of the Post-OfficeDepartment.

The object. is to provide a structure which is very simple, so that itmay be constructed at small cost and sold at a low price, said structureat the same time being weatherproof, so as to properly protect itscontents from the elements, and thoroughly strengthened to withstand edforcing of the same by an unauthorized person. To this end a box isprovided have ing very few seams and joints, the latter bein gcoveredwhen-the members are closed,said members being surrounded by astrengthening or reinforcing strip, to which hinge connections are made,so that the walls proper are relieved of the most destructive strainsand wear.

The preferred form of construction is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, where.- 1n-- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the box.

' Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the same. Fig. 3 is avertical transverse sec.- tional view. Fig. 4 is a detail bottom planview of onecorner of the box, and Fig. 5 is a detail sectional viewshowing the side margins of the receptacle member.

Similar reference-numerals indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawrugs.

In the embodiment illustrated a receptacle member 10 is employed havinga semicylindrical wall 11, the side margins 12 of said wall beingdoubled back against the outer face of the same and having the edgesoutturned, as shown at 13, to provide front and rear outstandingflanges, which flanges are thus located below the upper edges of thereceptacle member. The end walls 14 of this member are preferably in theform of circular disks, the lower portions of said disks being suitablyseamed, as shown at 15, to the end edges E. Rnnsn, a citi-x hard usageor the attemptsaid beads.

fact, the entire box,

of the wall 11. The upper portions of the end walls extend above theside edges of the receptacle member. Suitably secured to the outer faceof'the wall 11 is a transverselydisposed supporting-yoke 16, theterminals of which are outturned, as shown at 17, and rest against theunder sidesof the flanges 13. The

central or lower portion of the yoke is attached by suitable rivets 18to a bracket 19, which bracket is constructed to be fastened to a post20 or other suitable support.

A cover member 21 is employed, which is arranged 'to fit over the openside of the receptacle member, this cover member comprising asemicylindrical wall 22, to the end edges of which are seamed end caps23, these end caps being adapted to pass over the outer faces of the endwalls 14 of the receptacle member, whereby the upper portions of saidend walls will be housed within the cover member, so as to serve assupporting means for said member'and also thoroughly break the endjoints between the members. The side edges of the cover member are alsoprovided with outstanding flanges 24:, formed bybending the side marginsof the wall 22 out wardly. These flanges 24: are arranged to cover theflanges 13 of the receptacle member, and their outer edges are providedwith longitudinal beads 25,- inclosing strengthening-rods 26, thatproject beyond theQends of Reinforcingstrips 27 are attached to the endsof the cover member and extend transversely across and beyond the same,forming cars 28. The cars are provided with suitable openings, in whichare riveted theends of the strengthening-rods 26. As a result, areinforcing-frame completely surrounds the cover member and, in was tothoroughly strengthen the same. The flanges 13 of the receptacle memberare also provided at their free edges with beads29, in which .areinclosed front and rear strengthening-rods 30 and 31. The rear rod 31projects beyond the ends of its bead and passing through the adjacentcars 28 of the reinforcing-strips 27 co'nstitutesahingeconnectionbetweenthetwo members. The corresponding front flanges of themembers are provided with alined openings 32, and the end of the yoke16, located directly beneath the same, has a similar opensaidcross'piece and having a play in the apertures of the shank portion ofthe guide member, a latch pivoted in a slot in said shank portion andserving to lock said guide member from lateral movement when uncoupled,a tapering plunger-head mounted on the other ends of said pipes, ductsleading through said plunger and communicating with the opposite ends ofsaid pipes, an inclined member secured between said crosspiece and theplunger, a pressure-cylinder, a diametrically-disposed passage-waythrough said cylinder, a piston-valve working at right angles to saidpassage-way pivoted to the shank portion of the funnel-shaped guide,

coupling plunger-head, a cross-piece communicating passage-ways betweensaid cylinder and one of said coupler-carrying pipes and the train-pipe,as set forth.

7. A fluid-pressure coupler comprising a plate adapted to be secured tothe draw-bar of a car-coupler, a fixed and a pivotal bracket membersecured to said plate, a draw-bar pivotally mounted upon said swiveledbracket and guided in an aperture in the fixed bracket, andfluid-pressure coupling mechanism supported by said draw-bar, as setforth.

8. In combination with the draw-head of a car-coupler, aplate securedthereto, a fixed and a swiveled bracket secured to said plate, a barpivotally mounted upon said swiveled member a draw-bar pivot-allyconnected to said bar, a spring secured at one end to the latter and atits other end to said draw-head,

the lower end of the fixed bracket having a guideway in which'saiddraw-bar has a lateral play, a funnel-shaped guide member, a

supporting said funnel-shaped member and plungerhead, and linkconnections between the same and said draw-hoaias set forth.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

MARSHALL G. QUACKENBUSl-I. Witnesses:

TILMoN L. STANLEY, I E, J. KELSEY.

reinforcing-strips of the edges of one of the members, andreinforcing-strips attached to the other edges of said member andconnected to the rods.

11. In a mail-box, the combination with hinged members, one of saidmembers having beaded edges, of rods inclosed by the beads andprojecting beyond the same, and reinforcing-strips attached to saidmembers and secured to the rods.

12. In a mail-box, the combination with hinged members, one of saidmembers having outstanding side fianges provided with beaded edges, ofrods inclosed by the beadsand projecting beyond the ends thereof, andsecured to the ends of the member and attached to the projecting endsmember and attached to the ends of of the rods.

13. In a mail-box, the combination with a receptacle member having anoutstanding flange atone side, said flange being provided with a head,of a rod inelosed in the bead and projecting beyond the ends thereof,and reinforcing-strips secured to the ends of the other member andhaving hinge connections with the rod.

14. In a mail-box, the combination with a receptacle member having asemicylindrical wall, the side margins of which are turned back againstthe outer face thereof and are outturned to provide flanges, of beadslocated along the free edges of said flanges, rods inclosed in thebeads, a cover member fitting over the receptacle member and havingoutstanding side flanges provided with beads,

.rods inclosed by said beads, and reinforcingstrips secured across theends of the cover the rods that are carried by the flanges of saidmember, said reinforcingstrips having hinge connections with one of therods of the receptacle member.

carried by one member, and circular-disk walls carried by the othermember and having their projecting portions fitted within thefirst-mentioned member and inside the end walls thereof.

16. In a mail-box, the combination with a semicylindrical receptaclemember having outstanding side flanges and end disks that project aboveits side edges, of acover member that fits over the receptacle member,its side flanges and end walls, said cover memher having end walls thatoverlap and are located outside the end disks, and a hinge connectionbetween the corresponding edges of the members.

17. In a mail-box, the combination with a swinging member, of a signalpivoted to the swinging member and swinging upon its pivot in the samedirection therewith, and a stop carried by the swinging member forlimiting the swinging movement of the signal in one direction.

18. In a mail-box, the combination with a receptacle member, of a covermember hinged to the receptacle member, a signal pivoted upon one end ofthe cover member and arranged to swing upon its pivot'when the covermember is moved to open position, and a stop carried by the cover memberand arranged to engage the pivoted end of the signal to support the samein upright position when 7 5 the cover is closed and permit its. freeswinging movement when said cover is opened.

19. In a mail-box, the combination with a semicylindrical receptaclemember having outstanding flanges at its side edges, of a cover memberhinged to the receptacle mem her, a supporting-yoke secured to the outerface of the receptacle member and having its ends located beneath theflanges thereof, and a'bracket attached to the yoke.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ELMER E. REESE.

Witnesses:

J. A. WAUBAUGH, W. M; REESE.

